More about the book
Thousands lived in the Forbidden City when it was imperial China's center of power and the world's most extravagant palace. With the exceptions of the eunuchs, only one of those thousands was an adult male -- the emperor himself. Planned by emperor and architect Yongle, in 1405, it was laid out with open space and buildings corresponding to specific parts of the human body. The high, vermilion palace walls, by hiding the emperor, enhanced his mystique and glory.This chronicle richly blends history, anecdotal narrative, biographical portraits and illustrations and takes the reader through 500 years of life in imperial China. The authors gathered previously inaccessible materials from the archives in Beijing, making this a truly unique and insightful work. The photographs of Hu Chui breathe life into the structures of the Forbidden City, along with a wealth of treasures and paintings collected during imperial times.
Book purchase
Forbidden City, MAY HOLDSWORTH, Caroline Courtauld, Chui Hu, Jonathan Spence
- Language
- Released
- 1998
- Binding
- (Hardcover),
- Book condition
- Good
- Price
- €9.99
Payment methods
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- Title
- Forbidden City
- Subtitle
- The Great Within
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- Odyssey Books & Maps
- Released
- 1998
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 140
- ISBN10
- 9622175902
- ISBN13
- 9789622175907
- Series
- Categories
- Tags
- Historical Themes, Asia, China
- Description
- Thousands lived in the Forbidden City when it was imperial China's center of power and the world's most extravagant palace. With the exceptions of the eunuchs, only one of those thousands was an adult male -- the emperor himself. Planned by emperor and architect Yongle, in 1405, it was laid out with open space and buildings corresponding to specific parts of the human body. The high, vermilion palace walls, by hiding the emperor, enhanced his mystique and glory.This chronicle richly blends history, anecdotal narrative, biographical portraits and illustrations and takes the reader through 500 years of life in imperial China. The authors gathered previously inaccessible materials from the archives in Beijing, making this a truly unique and insightful work. The photographs of Hu Chui breathe life into the structures of the Forbidden City, along with a wealth of treasures and paintings collected during imperial times.